Beverage Container with Self Deploying Straw

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a beverage container having an internal flexible straw having spaced apart flexure joints positioned to create pressure within the straw body so that when the pull tab is removed from its covering position of the beverage body port the stored energy within the straw flexure joint portions will extend the top portion of the straw through the body port opening into an operative position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to containers and, more specifically, to beverage containers that when opened allows deployment of a straw in communication with the beverage for immediate use.

The beverage container of the present invention contains an internal flexible tube or straw having spaced apart flexure joints positioned to create pressure within the straw body so that when the pull tab is removed from its covering position of the beverage body port the stored energy within the straw flexure joint portions will extend the top portion of the straw through the body port opening into an operative position.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a straw having an exteriorly extending lip on the exteriorly extending top end of the straw which is diametrically greater than that of the contents beverage port or straw lip-retainer aperture so that the straw will not be displaced from its seat within the contents access port regardless on which side or end it is stored or while in use.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are other beverage containers with attached or affixed straws or tubes. Prior art embodiments are exclusive of any beverage containers with self contained straws devices of which having a straw spaced apart flexure joints positioned to create pressure within the straw body so that when the pull tab is removed from its covering position of the contents access port the stored energy within the flexure joint portions will extend the top portion of the straw through the access port opening into an operative position.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container utilizing a self-deploying straw once the beverage container is opened.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container containing an internal flexible tube or straw.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container containing an internal flexible tube or straw having spaced apart flexure joints positioned to create pressure within the straw body.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container containing an internal flexible tube or straw so that when the pull tab is removed from its covering position of the contents access port the stored energy within the flexure joint portions will extend the top portion of the straw through the access port opening into an operative position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an exteriorly extending lip on the exteriorly extending top end of the straw which is diametrically greater than that of the contents access port.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a straw that will not be displaced from its seat within the contents access port regardless on which side or end it is stored or while in use

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container containing an internal flexible tube or straw that is cost effective and easy to manufacture.

Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a beverage container having an internal flexible straw with spaced apart flexure joints positioned to create pressure within the straw body so that when the pull tab is removed from its covering position of the contents access port the stored energy within the flexure joint portions will extend the top portion of the straw through the access port opening into an operative position. Furthermore, the present invention provides an exteriorly extending lip on the exteriorly extending top end of the straw which is diametrically greater than that of the contents access port so that the straw will not be displaced from its seat within the contents access port regardless on which side or end it is stored or while in use.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use.

FIG. 2 through FIG. 6 illustrate the present invention using a rigid housing.

FIG. 7 illustrates the constrained self-deploying straw.

FIGS. 8 through FIG. 10 illustrate the self-deploying straw in a pliable container.

FIG. 11 illustrates alternated straw flaired tip ends.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the Figures illustrate the hybrid induction motor of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing Figures.

-   10 beverage dispenser with self-deploying straw of the present     invention -   12 dispenser housing -   14 dispenser housing interior -   16 dispenser pull-tab -   18 tensioned-deployable straw -   20 rigid housing -   22 pliable housing -   23 pliable housing interior -   24 top of 20 -   26 bottom of 20 -   28 front of 20 -   30 side of 20 -   32 back of 20 -   34 side of 20 -   36 beverage port -   38 straw lip-retainer -   40 aperture of 38 -   42 variant of 38 -   44 aperture of 42 -   46 pull-tab handle -   48 pull-tab cover -   50 pull-tab binding -   52 binding of 18 -   54 straw-location indicator -   56 flaired end of 18 -   58 end of 18 -   60 rigid portion of 18 -   62 flexible portion of 18 -   64 mitered end of 58 -   66 kinetic energy of 62 -   68 lines of flexure of 18 -   70 wall of 22 -   72 seam of 22 -   74 gusset of 22 -   76 variant of 62 -   78 variant of 56

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, shown is the present invention in use comprising containers having self-deploying straws. Shown is the present invention 10 comprising typical beverage containers 12, 22 having self-deploying straws 18 therein.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 11, shown are examples of rigid 20 and pliable 22 containers having a self-deploying straw 18 illustrating the present invention 10. Shown in FIGS. 2 through 6 is one illustrated embodiment of the present invention 10 employed in dispenser housing 12 typically found in the single serving beverage industry forming rigid housing 20 comprising planar segments: top side 24, bottom side 26 and walls 28, 30, 32, 34 extending therebetween forming the dispenser body 12 encompassing body interior 14 having straw 18 comprising alternating segments of rigid portion 60 and flexible portion 62 with the flexible portions extended to an energy storage state wherein the flexible portions 62 having a flexible accordion-like structure that when extended resists compression which is used to advantage in raising that portion of the straw positioned within beverage port 36 when dispenser pull-tab 16 comprising handle 46 cover 48 and hinge 50 is moved to an open state whereby straw 18 deploys through port 36.

In an alternate method of producing a straw with stored energy consists of using a straw made of a memory retentive material whereby the accordion folds have a closed memory state and an open memory state so that when partially extended the remaining open memory state pressure forms potential energy 66. When dispenser pull-tab 16 comprising handle 46 cover 48 and hinge 50 is moved to an open state.

Also shown is straw 18 having end 58 with miter 64 which will prevent end 58 from completely engaging surface 26. The present invention further provides that container 12 having port 36 which is sized (FIG. 7) to allow the straw body sections 60, 62 to freely pass through further provides a straw lip-retainer 38, 42 positionable over body port 36 to restrict aperture 36 opening to lip-retainer 38,42 aperture 40, 44 which when used with a straw having flaired end 56 prevents straw 18 from completely entering body interior 14.

An aid is provided by the present invention in deploying straw 18 by providing adhesive element 52 between straw 18 and pull tab 16 so that the user imparts a force in deploying straw 18.

Also provided is indicator 54 positioned on the exterior housing corner of the straw location as a user informational aid.

The present invention 10 illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 6 an embodiment using rigid container 20 and is further illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 10 using pliable housing 22 having walls 70 sealed along perimeter 72 having body interior 23 serving similar purpose as rigid container 20.

Further provided is pliable housing 22 having gusset 74 (FIG. 10), which serves as base for straw end 58 when the self-deploying straw 18 is used in gusset pliable beverage containers 22.

Additionally provided (FIG. 11) is flaired end 56 having various straw ends 78 serving similar purpose of having an exterior diameter greater than beverage port 32 or the additional straw lip-retainer 38, 42 respective aperture 40, 44.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

1. An article having a releasable self-deploying straw comprising: a) an enclosed structure forming a body having an interior; b) the body having a port providing access to the interior of the body; c) an alternately segmented straw with the alternate segments comprising tubular-like housing and flexible accordion-like segments conjoined forming said straw; d) said segmented straw positioned within the interior body by shaping the flexible accordion-like segments to a stored energy state that is constrained by the body with one distal end of said straw positioned within the body port and the other end engaging the base of the body. and e) a user releasable cover adhered to the body over the body port forming a component of the constraining structure of the straw having a stored energy state by virtue of the constrained flexure of the flexible accordion-like segments.
 2. The article of claim 1, wherein said article is comprised of substantially planar surfaces forming top and bottom sides with walls conjoined therebetween.
 3. The article of claim 1, wherein said body is a pliant container having a front side and a back side that are sealed the length of the perimeter.
 4. The article of claim 2, wherein the body port is positioned within the top side of the article and has diameter providing for the passage of the straw segments.
 5. The article of claim 4, further comprising said straw having a flaired end of a diameter greater than that of the body port to prevent the straw from total passage back into the body interior.
 6. The article of claim 4, further comprising a straw lip-retainer that is attached to the body port having structure forming means for preventing a straw having a flaired end from total passage back into the body interior.
 7. The article of claim 6, further comprising a straw having a mitered end for the end engaging the base of the body to prevent a vacuum seal with the planar base of the bottom side.
 8. The article of claim 2, further comprising an indicator running the length of one exterior edge indicated the location of the interior straw as an informational aid.
 9. The article of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive-like element placed on the user releasable cover to engage the lip of the straw whereby cover release will initiate deployment of the straw by means of said adhesive-like element. 